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Major childcare providers group announces a review of strategy to realise potential of the PVI sector in delivering the childcare strategy

NEWS RELEASE

25 May 2007

Major childcare providers group announces a review of strategy to realise potential of the PVI sector in delivering the childcare strategy

The Major Providers group which comprises the fourteen largest nursery operators in the private and voluntary sector has committed itself to a major review of its work to ensure it can best engage with the 10 Year Childcare Strategy and seek solutions to the current concerns in the sector.

Group member and the largest voluntary sector childcare provider in England, the Pre-school Learning Alliance, has been asked by the group to facilitate their work and chair forthcoming meetings.

The review of strategy will look at ways of maximising the potential of the private and voluntary sectors to deliver the childcare strategy in the current challenging climate. This builds on recent close collaborations with the Children’s Minister, Officials and the Treasury.

Part of the review programme will include how the PVI sector can have a larger role in the running of children’s centres, nationwide research on the adequacy of Nursery Education Funding, political lobbying to highlight concerns on long term sustainability of services and consideration of how the group should best organise itself for the long term.

Andrew Fitzmaurice from Nord Anglia and group member says

“The PVI sector already makes a massive contribution to delivering high quality childcare in the UK. However, we feel there is a lot more we can do to seek constructive solutions to the many challenges we all face particularly utilising capacity in existing nurseries to provide children centre services, the failure of NEF to cover true costs across the whole country and real participation of the PVI sector in every local authority”.

Steve Alexander from the Pre-school Learning Alliance and chair of the Major Providers commented

“This is an exciting partnership which we believe will bring long term benefits for all childcare providers and importantly more closely and effectively meet the needs of the very young children and families throughout England”.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Kate Summerside
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7697 2502
Out of hours press calls: 07956 499621
E: Kate Summerside

Notes for Editors:

  1. The major childcare providers group comprises:

    • Asquith Nurseries
    • Bright Horizons Family Solutions
    • Buffer Bear
    • Busy Bees Childcare
    • Casterbridge Care & Education Limited
    • Child Base Ltd
    • The Childcare Corporation plc
    • Just Learning Ltd
    • Kidsunlimited
    • Nord Anglia
    • Pre-school Learning Alliance
    • Primary Steps Day Nurseries
    • Teddies Nurseries
    • Wind in the Willows (Nurseries) Ltd
  2. The Pre-school Learning Alliance is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.
  3. Through direct provision and its membership of 15,000 nurseries, sessional pre-schools and parent and toddler groups, the Alliance supports over 800,000 children and their families in England. The Alliance also develops and runs family learning programmes, offers information and advice, runs acclaimed training and accreditation programmes and campaigns to influence early years policy and practice.
  4. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website: www.pre-school.org.uk
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